                         end-lat
                         (or end-direction
                             (count orbit-str)))]
-           (Float. (str/trim (subs el (inc (.indexOf el ":")))))))
+           (coerce-float :end-lat (str/trim (subs el (inc (.indexOf el ":")))))))
        (when end-direction
          (let [ed (subs orbit-str
                         end-direction)]

            ascending-crossing
            start-lat (convert-direction start-direction)
            end-lat (convert-direction end-direction))))

(defmethod gmd/encode cmr.umm.umm_granule.Orbit
  [orbit]

    [record]
    (v/create-error-messages (v/validate validations record))))

(defn- build-orbit-string
  "Builds ISO SMAP orbit string using umm values."
  [orbit]
  (let [{:keys [ascending-crossing start-lat start-direction end-lat end-direction]} orbit]
